The stars are bright tonight and the cemetery is under arclights on top of that.  It's hardly the sort of place where one would expect to find a vampire tonight even though it is a cemetery.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:48, Tue 04 Jan 2022.

Ann looked about for anything to use as a weapon, be it stake or simple rock.

"There's something here. I can't explain how I know, but I feel it."

There is a large pool of water beside you, reflecting the sky above.  It's about twenty feet wide and fifty feet long.  The nearest possible weapons are a relatively small flagpole bearing the stars and stripes and a laurel tree from which you could easily tear a branch.

“We’ll be quicker than an ale going down.  Thanks be to you, sir”

Alice had to leave her fencing blade behind, but was able to keep some things in her pocket.  As soon as she was inside and out of sight, she passed Ann one of her pocket stakes.  They were small, but good enough.  As a Watcher, it was standard equipment… and she was expected to carry them for the Slayer.  Alice kept one hand in her pocket, holding the crucifix.  It was also prudent to collect Elissa as well.

“Here you go Ann.  As we’ve discussed, focus on that feeling and follow it to the source.  I’d rather we fight out of earshot, so our gate friend doesn’t come running.

Elissa didn't have any funky 'I can feel him' powers. Or at least she didn't think she had, and she didn't feel anything. But she did have two mark 1 eyeballs, and she knew how to use them. How to quarter a scene. How to find the shadows that should not be shadows. How to find movement that was trying to look like a shadow moving in the wind. And she had put those mark 1 eyeballs to use. And she found something.

Elissa's heart rate tripled in about a second. A surge of adrenaline so big her kidney's ached flooed her. But she didn't move. She was a shadow in the night too. And when she spoke her voice was even quieter. She didn't want to alert what she'd spotted. Crawling took time. The best response to an ambush was a counter ambush. That moment of surprise when the instead of being the hunter you were the hunted... that could be crippling

Did these two know how to read hand sign? What the hell was she doing here when she didn't even know that? She couldn't take the risk "Man. Seven o'clock. Crawling. Has knife. Is trained" she murmured as she stayed absolutely still, but poised and ready to move. Maximum information, minimum noise. Was this guy a fucking vampire? Or ... jesus he could be anything. A ghost. A ghoulie. Or for all she knew a Roswell alien with a Mission Impossible rubber mask. She'd seen a man on a flying horse for fucks sake. And this guy had a knife... and probably meant to use it. So what would she do if the guy attacked?

Keep to the basics. She could hear Dad's voice now. It had seemed like a game when they played out these scenarios. What are the basics, El . At the time it had seemed so simple.  Stay alive. Keep your team alive. Do what you have to do to make that happen. Mission priorites last If you thought about the problems before hand you didn't need to think about them, when like this you just wanted to throw up with the tension

Of all the things she was afraid of in a fight... it wasn't a gorilla twice her weight. It wasn't some jock with a baseball bat. It was a small nimble guy with a knife who knew how to use it. Knives didn't miss. And the guy had a knife. And it looked as though he wanted to use it...

"Seven o'clock? That's not for ages."

Ann thanked Miss Casey for the stake. She was still scared, but it felt a little better to have a weapon to hand. Moving away from the gate sounded like a fine plan, but not if there was a man with a knife waiting to ambush them. Oh, and "Vampires. There are vampires about. I don't know how many, or if the man Elissa sees is one, but they're here. I did what you taught me, Miss Casey, and reached out with The Force, or whatever it was you called it."

And what were the chances that the bloke with the knife was human, hanging around at night in a cemetery?

"Let's move along the water. It should get us away from the gate and nobody will be able to attack us from that direction." She scanned the darkness, looking for threats.

Ann sees the man that Elissa mentioned. He is on the other side of the water, he is well camouflaged and moving in a stealthy manner. He's dressed like an extra in a war movie.  It's not entirely clear whether he's seen you yet. Either he's trying to cut you off and drive you deeper into the cemetery or his prey is not you, but the Marine at the gate.

"Fuck" Elissa's voice drifted over the night air "I think he's going for the marine." What were the odds? Her paranoia was kicking in again. What were the chances that in the five minute window they were here a man dressed as a WW2 commando was going to try and stab the marine guard. Was this a set up? Were there film cameras around that would watch them. Camera's that would make a snuff movie with the guard or the commando in starring roles, and themselves in a frame job that would lock them in forever.

But then she remembered the man. That... if anyone could do that, they didn't need to do this complex a setup. And Ann had mentioned fate. Elissa didn't beleive in fate, but she didn't beleive in flying people either...

Ideas went through her head. If the commando was a normal man ... there would be no problem. She'd done so many of these scenarios before it was second nature. She'd toss a log that attracted the eyes of the guard, the guard had a gun. The man had a knife and was crawling. That fight would go one way. She'd melt into the background and be gone. Ann and Alice would be 'helpless citizens'.

But what if it was a vampire. Did guns work on vampires? They didn't in the movies, and Ann was carrying a stake not a machine gun.

And what if it was just an exercise? Testing the efficiency of the guard. Sheesh.

Focus on the basics. Stay alive. Keep your team alive. Mission Priority: Keep the marine alive. She had to get the marine to react, see the commando's response. And if it was supernatural... she'd know what to do. And she had to be in position to do it.

"I'm moving closer. Ann... throw a log at the crawler in twenty..."

With that she started to circle round. More bothered that the sentry didn't see her. The crawler she knew would almost certainly be tunnel visioned...
This message was last edited by the player at 10:51, Wed 05 Jan 2022.

Ann saw a suitable piece of wood, but when she moved towards it, she noticed that she'd started holding Miss Casey's hand in her fear. Letting go, and hoping she didn't look too cowardly, she picked up the log and carefully lined up her shot while she gave Elissa time to move into position. Hoping her training would pay off, she launched it towards the creature's head.

OOC:
13:44, Today: Ann Winters rolled 15 using 1d10+9.  Aiming. – 15
That's 4 success levels

13:47, Today: Ann Winters rolled 24 using 1d10+18.  Throw branch. – 24
That's 7 success levels

Ann threw the branch directly at the soldier's bonce.  Since he was wearing a beret rather than a helmet, it smashed into pieces against his skull.  His face changed to something different, something strange, with a heavy and wrinkled brow and sharp elongated canines.  He stood up and faced you.

Yes, that's definitely the vamp's game face.

Elissa had been ready for this she'd thought. Ready for the moment when the log landed. She'd not expected an attempt at a killing blow from Ann, but the shock of horror that ran through her from that, was as nothing compared to the shock of seeing the vampire face. That hadn't been make up. He'd had a normal face. She'd seen him hold the knife in his teeth. And now this... she felt as sick in the stomach as when she'd seen the man fly.

Elissa froze. Not out of any particular strategy just a reaction to the realisation 'oh my god someone's going to die'. She'd been in lots of fights. Every saturday night behind the Apollo until she'd changed for a start. But they weren't like this. No one had a knife... or if they did they didn't for long. A few bruises and contusions were the worst. But now there was a marine with a gun, a vampire with a knife, and she and the other two girls just had a couple of lumps of wood to help them.

OOC
If the vampire charges the marine Elissa will intercept, otherwise wasted go

Ann took in the horrific shape of the vampire's face. Words didn't do justice to how it felt to face it in the flesh. As her knuckles tightened on the stake, she stepped back and glanced towards the sentry, wondering if he had heard anything.

But this was her mission now. To put a stop to monsters like this preying on the innocent. Hiding the stake behind her back, she tried to look as frightened as she could, too shocked to scream. Would the vampire choose to attack an apparently defenceless woman and girl? If he did, he was going to get the surprise of his unlife.

The vamp looks from Ann to Elissa and then back again.  He considers ways to reach his target but then sighed.  He needed another target.  He looked from Elissa to Ann. Did he want to go for the one who had run to block his path to the Jarhead at the entrance, or did he want to go for the one who had thrown the rock or whatever it was that had hit his head and was now pretending to be scared.

Well he would give her something to be scared about.

He ran toward the water, accelerating into the jump and sailed across the twenty feet between him and Ann, slashing and trying to cut her with the knife.

18:29, Today: Alcuin, for the NPC Vamp Soldier, rolled 21 using 1d10+12.  Cut Ann.

Panicking, Ann wavered between staking the vampire through the heart like she'd been taught and simply getting out of the way. In the end, she tried both at the same time, trusting to her Slayer speed and grace.

OOC:
21:27, Today: Ann Winters rolled 14 using 1d10+12.  Stake through heart. – 14 3 successes. If it hits, I think it does 75 damage if that's enough to kill the vamp. If not, it only does 15.

21:41, Today: Ann Winters rolled 17 using 1d10+13.  Dodge. – 17 5 Successes.

A look of shock passes over the vamp's face for a moment and he rocks back even as his knife cuts Ann's arm.  The combination of the stake and the sight of such delicious blood causes him to teeter on the edge of the pool, his gaze fixated on the delicious red slayer blood welling up from the place he cut her.

21:01, Today: Alcuin, for the NPC Vamp Soldier, rolled 20 using 1d10+12.  Dexterity to remain standing.
Damage to Vamp = 15
Damage to Slayer = 4

Elissa felt a huge sigh of both relief and fear. The Marine was probably safe. Given that he'd been armed with a gun, she suspected the vampire would have made short work of him... But ... her worries about the knife had been real: she could see the blood coming from Ann. Less than she'd feared: the girl obviously knew how to guard herself and take the little hits instead of the big

Charging towards to the vampire she was striken with a problem. What would work? If he'd been a man... well ... eyeballs or testicles... they were the targets. But would that even work on a vampire? Did they need to see? Did they even feel pain?

One thing was clear: Ann had training. She knew what to do. Elissa hadn't... so it was back to basics again. The basic essence of Tai Chi. Absorb, resist, immobilise... survive and control until you could get the enemy in position for a singe unavoidable strike. It wasn't her favourite style... too passive... and she liked to get the hurt in first, but for this it was perfect

Elissa dove on the vampire, grabbing for the elbow, boths hands pinning it to the vampire's side with her body weight and strength for just a second. Most people would go for the wrist... but the elbow was easier... much easier.. Her right hand slide up the arm grabbing and immobilising the wrist. A quick sliding pull, so simple it was almost as though she and the vampire were dancing...

Grapple 22
Edit: forgot multiple attacker rule. Actually grapple 24
If succeeded actions using limb at -2

This message was last edited by the player at 22:21, Wed 05 Jan 2022.

Elissa made no attempt at stealth and as she went for the hold, the vamp tried to resist, the thing is though that Elissa was stronger and held his arm to his side, leaving him fairly open to whatever attack Alice or Ann may try.

22:30, Today: Alcuin, for the NPC Vamp Soldier, rolled 16 using 1d10+12.  Avoid Elissa's grapple.

Grabbing this guy was like grabbing a Gorrilla. It was tough to hang on... but now she had him it was time to ground and pound. There were two of them... and Elissa was sure Ann knew what to do, even if she didn't.

The arm was a lever, and the vampire seemed to have human legs. A brutal stomp to the back of the knee combined with her own elbow over the vampire's arm, and her whole bodyweight slamming ought to do it... if he wasn't so seriously strong ... "Wish... I'd... brought ... my shitkickers" she snarled as she started to put the hurt in. "Get him girl"

Takedown 19
This message was last edited by the player at 07:36, Thu 06 Jan 2022.

Alice stayed out of the fighting, not through fear but through choice.  She did however circle around to hem in the vampire soldier... cross at the ready, in case it made a run for it.

"You'll need to soften it up before the staking, wear down its defenses.  Nice grab!"

Ordinarily Alice would have used names, but not in this combat.

OOC:  Rule query, is there a way to assist another (like with skills, in this case Ann?  An encouragement roll so to speak...

Ann looked at the wound on her arm where the vampire hat cut her. It didn't hurt as much as she'd expected. Was that adrenalin or did Slayers not feel pain in the same way?

But more importantly, her sleeve had a long slash with blood in it. She looked back up at the vampire. If looks could kill, Elissa would be grappling a pile of dust.

"This. Was. New."

Miss Casey was telling Ann to soften its defences, and what had Elissa told her? Eyeballs and testicles. Ann chose the latter, kicking upwards with all her strength.

OOC:
09:10, Today: Ann Winters rolled 16 using 1d10+14.  Kick groin. – 16 If Alice gets to add more than just 2, this will increase, but it's 4 success levels for 17 damage. Plus he needs to make a test for it being a groin hit

And if the vamp should attack her, she'll attempt to dodge:
09:11, Today: Ann Winters rolled 18 using 1d10+13.  Dodge. – 18

Ann you have another attack this round.

OOC:
OK, Ann will add a spin kick too. If I understand correctly, she doesn't roll again, but uses her original attack roll of 8 and a penalty of 2, giving her a total of 13 for 3 success levels and 21 damage.

After Elissa grabs the vamp, he in turn tries to return the favour, seeking to enjoy some of that delicious hot human blood but unfortunately for him, Ann got HM good in the groin and then added a spin kick to send him over the edge into the water.

Unfortunately for Elissa, the vamp had a firm grip and she went into the water with him.  For just a moment, she struggled with him before the water began to bubble as the vamp burned (but not Elissa).  This water is sacred to the memory of four hundred brave American war dead whose sacrifice made it Holy.

The a splash brings the guard running. "That's it you two. Out!  I don't know what you just threw in the water but this is a sacred site."

The girls made her proud, but the guard was on them before Alice could do much of anything.  Instead she quickly pocketed her cross and bullshiited an explanation… in a thick Irish accent.

“Thousand pardons, my student slipped and cut her arm.  We better get it tendered or I’m in a heap of trouble.  Hold on Lass, some Dettol’ll make it better.”

Alice began to wrap Ann’s arm with a clean handkerchief and escort her out.  Hopefully Elissa could use the distraction to disappear.

It seemed to take an age as Elissa flew through the air, everything in slow motion, the salivating vampire trying to suck her life blood, only held off by her grip on him. She could see the enormous teeth reaching for him... the hunger in the mutated eyes... This even more than the flying man convinced her that this was actually a real vampire.. and it was fixated on her...

As they landed in the water there was an oomph, but the water broke the brunt of the fall. And then everything got worse. A lot worse. To say Elissa was 'unhappy with the situation' did not describe the sheer terror of being in a death grip with flaming vampire under water when an angry trained man with a gun was racing towards them.

Snarling and perhaps as enraged as the vampire she let that anger out. The anger that she tried to lock up. The anger that took her into the mosh pits, that meant on Saturday nights she used to go cruising for a bruising. She already had the vampire grabbed so with a huge surge, unleashing all of her inhuman strength she tossed the flaming vampire back 'somewhere over there'. Over there was at the point of the triangle made by the Marine and Ann, and then she leaped out of the pool the other way and ran into darkness, hoping the distraction would stop her getting a bullet in the back.